Lafreniere looking out for No. 1

Alexis Lafreniere plans to follow in Jack Hughes’ footsteps.

For now, the early favourite to be the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft next year in Montreal will adhere to the advice he received recently from the New Jersey Devils’ first overall pick last month.

“It was the first time I talked to him (during the draft combine),” Lafreniere, the 17-year-old from St-eustache, Que., said Monday at the World Junior Summer Showcase. “He told me there may be a lot of attention around, but try to focus on myself and get better every day.”

Lafreniere, a winger with the Rimouski Océanic, believes his game is much different than that of Hughes, a centre.

“He’s much more of a quick guy and sneaky,” said the Canadian, who posted 105 points in his sophomore season in the Quebec Major Junior League. “He’s way better at skating than me. He’s a really mature guy and a hell of a player.”

Last year, Lafreniere cracked the Canadian world junior roster at age 16 — a rare feat. He scored one goal in five games but didn’t live up to lofty expectations on an underachieving team.

“You have to work for every minute of ice time,” he said. “I know having a different role, it’s not always easy. I learned a lot about that. At the start, it’s a bit difficult.

“Last year helped me a lot for this year.”

Dale Hunter believes Lafreniere will thrive in the spotlight. He expects Lafreniere and Joe Veleno, the Canadian returnees, to take the reins both on and off the ice.

“He’s a special player,” said Hunter, the head coach of Canada’s entry in the 2020 world juniors. “With his character, too, the players gravitate toward him. We need him to be a great leader and show the kids the right way.

“Hockey players love pressure. You want to be in the Stanley Cup final, the world juniors, play in the final game, be on the ice in overtime. He’s a kid who enjoys the game.

“When you retire, you miss that pressure. He’s going to embrace it.”

There’s a pretty good chance Lafreniere will lighten the mood in the dressing room — intentionally or not — when he uses his second language.

“His English has come a long way,” Veleno said. “Like every (francophone), the laughs always come along when you’re trying to speak English. He has a lot of fun with it.”

A good showing at the world juniors would only cement his status heading into the draft.

“It’s going to be crazy in Montreal,” he said.